He was born Delecta Clark in Blytheville, Arkansas, and moved to Chicago in 1941. His mother, Essie Mae Clark, was a gospel singer and encouraged her son to pursue his love of music. Clark made his first recording in 1952 as a member of the Hambone Kids, who enjoyed some success with a recording of "Hambone" on the OKeh label. In 1953, he joined an R&B group called the Goldentones, who later became the Kool Gents and were discovered by Chicago radio DJ Herb Kent upon winning a talent competition. Kent had the Kool Gents signed to Vee-Jay label's subsidiary Falcon/Abner. The group recorded for Falcon/Abner in 1956, and also recorded a novelty record as "The Delegates".
Clark embarked on a solo career in 1957, initially following the styles of Clyde McPhatter and Little Richard. When Little Richard temporarily abandoned his music career to study the Bible, Clark fulfilled Richard's remaining live dates and also recorded with his backing band, the Upsetters. Over the next four years he landed several moderate hits, two of which ("Just Keep It Up" and "Hey Little Girl") reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100). His records for Abner and Vee-Jay were orchestrated by Riley Hampton. His biggest single, "Raindrops," a power ballad augmented by heavy rain and thunder sound effects and Clark's swooping falsetto, was released in the spring of 1961 and became his biggest hit, soaring to number two on the pop chart and number three on the R&B charts. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. "Raindrops" was also an international success, reaching number one in New Zealand and reaching the top ten in South Africa and Belgium, and selling well in Japan. "Raindrops" remains a staple on oldies and adult standards radio station playlists to this day, and has also been covered by several other artists in the years since, including David Cassidy, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and most notably Narvel Felts, who took the song to number 30 on the country chart in 1974. Clark himself recorded an updated version of "Raindrops" in 1973.
However, Clark's biggest hit was also his last. The follow-up to "Raindrops," "Don't Walk Away From Me," was a flop, and he made the pop charts in America only twice more, with "I'm Going Back to School" (1962) and "Crossfire Time" (1963). By the time "Crossfire Time" came out, Clark had moved from Vee-Jay to the Constellation label. Though he continued to record for Constellation through 1966, none of his records charted nationally. He had considerable local success in Chicago with such standout recordings as "Come Closer" (1964), the double-sided hit of "Warm Summer Breezes" and "Heartbreak" (1964), and "TCB" (1965). He later recorded for the Columbia, Wand, Liberty and Rocky labels, without success. Clark had a brief revival in 1975 when his song "Ride a Wild Horse" became a surprise Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart, becoming his first chart hit in the UK since "Just Keep It Up."
Afterwards, Clark performed mostly on the oldies circuit. By the late 1980s, he was in dire straits financially, living in a welfare hotel in Toccoa, Georgia. Despite suffering a stroke in 1987 that left him partially paralyzed and with a mild speech impediment, he continued to perform until his death on December 7, 1990, in Smyrna, Georgia, from a heart attack at the age of 52. His last concert was with the Jimmy Gilstrap Band at the Portman Lounge in Anderson, South Carolina.
Raindrops
Dee Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So many raindrops
It feels like raindrops
Falling from my eye-eyes
Falling from my eyes
Since my love has left me
I'm so all alone
But I don't know where she's gone
I don't know where she's gone
There must be a cloud in my head
Rain keeps falling from my eye-eyes
Oh, no it can't be teardrops
For a man ain't supposed to cry
So it must be raindrops
So many raindrops
It feels like raindrops
Falling from my eye-eyes
Falling from my eyes
Oh-oh, there must be a cloud in my head
Rain keeps falling from my eye-eyes
Oh, no this can't be teardrops
For a man ain't supposed to cry
So it must be raindrops
So many raindrops
It feels like raindrops
Falling from my eye-eyes
Falling from my eyes
It keeps on falling
Falling from my eyes
Ooh!
It keeps on falling from my eyes
It keeps on falling from my eyes
The lyrics to Dee Clark's song Raindrops are about heartbreak and the natural response that comes with it: tears. Clark speaks about the raindrops that are falling from his eyes, which symbolizes his emotional pain following the departure of his lover. He is so lonely that he would like to bring her back, but he has no idea where she's gone. Clark expresses his internal feelings by stating that there must be a cloud in his head, which is causing rain to pour from his eyes, but he clarifies that it's not tears because men aren't supposed to cry; hence, he assumes it must be rain.
Raindrops portrays an emotional story of how love could often end up in heartbreak. An important aspect of the lyrics is the expression of the pain of the singer's loss, as well as how he tries to deny his vulnerability. Overall, the tune and lyrics of Raindrops make a strong impression and convey a message that is true to the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, raindrops
The singer is observing raindrops falling.
So many raindrops
The singer notes a large number of raindrops coming down.
It feels like raindrops
The sensation of something falling is reminiscent of raindrops.
Falling from my eye-eyes
The singer describes tears streaming down their face.
Falling from my eyes
Reiteration of tears falling.
Since my love has left me
The singer is lonely and heartbroken due to a recent breakup.
I'm so all alone
The singer is experiencing deep loneliness without their love.
I would bring her back to me
The singer wishes they could undo the breakup.
But I don't know where she's gone
The singer doesn't know their ex-partner's whereabouts.
There must be a cloud in my head
The singer blames their emotional state for the tears falling.
Rain keeps falling from my eye-eyes
The tears continue to fall.
Oh, no it can't be teardrops
The singer insists that their sadness is not what's causing the tears.
For a man ain't supposed to cry
The societal expectation is that men aren't supposed to show emotion.
So it must be raindrops
The singer continues to doubt that they are crying.
It keeps on falling
The tears won't stop coming.
Ooh!
An exclamation to express the singer's emotional distress.
It keeps on falling from my eyes
Reiteration of the tears falling relentlessly.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Delecta Clark
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaelmartin6912
Geez , just one of the ELITE sounds of the best early R and R era....just great ! We lost Mr. Clarke at only 52....bummer....😢
@timjones7547
Wow! I haven't heard this in fifty plus years, but I sang along to the lyrics as though I sang it yesterday. What a great old song...
@MarleneInostrozadeBoyle
No soy de su época, pero esta canción me gusta mucho. Bendiciones.
@manuelcampos2357
I remember Dee Clark. I gave my cd to a friend
@Rocketman88002
The 60's decade of music had a sound all of its own.....kind of a hybrid of what was and what it became. Dee Clark carries on the theme of love and broken hearts that preceded from forever before his time.
@tyronesmith8250
The scream at the end goes right through my heart and hits me so hard In my soul!!!
@loretosilva7687
You're right😥💔
@tw364
you hit it on the head!
@5871248
gots a good scream...reminds me of Jackie Wilson...anbother good screamer.
@axecalibore
I noticed the same.